Abstract

Background and aim: Cytokines are part of a family of molecules
involved in the initiation, control and termination of the events that occurs in
wound healing process. Aim of this study was to evaluate the production of
some cytokines [interleukin (IL)-6, IL-10, IL-1a, IL-1ra, interferon
(IFN)-g] in the drainage wound fluid from patients undergoing incisional
hernia repair.
Methods: Ten female patients with abdominal midline incisional hernia undergoing to surgical repair were included in this study. In all cases a
closed suction drain was placed in the wound below the fascia and it was
removed on the 4 th postoperative day. Wound fluid was collected on the 1st
,
2
nd, 3rd and 4th day and its amount in each time was recorded. The production of IL-6, IL-10, IL-1a, IL-1ra and IFN-g were evaluated as quantity
produced in 24 hour.
Results: In all patients the amount of drain fluid from surgical wound
was highest on the 1st day after surgery, afterwards there is a significant
reduction. The production of all cytokines evaluated was highest on the 1st
day decreasing on the 2nd day except for IL-1a that not show any modification. The produciton of IL-1ra, IL-6, IL-1a and IL-10 was significantly
reduced on the 3rd and 4th postoperative day in comparison with the respectively values recorded on the 1st day, whereas IFN-g levels were similar.
Conclusions: The dosage of cytokines in the drain fluid led us to better evaluated the events that follow surgical wound and their analysis offers
further information in the role of cytokines in healing process, with the goal to
get supportive treatments to promote the best evolution.